Paint-Outs

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are invited by fellow member Linda Hilderbrant to visit her home for a paint-out on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, between 10 am and 1 pm. Linda lives in Hampshire, IL, where her 16 woodland acres include wildflowers, mature trees, a pond, and wildlife. Participants should bring their art supplies, a camera, something to sit on, and a picnic lunch to enjoy the day to its fullest. These photos were taken by Linda right around the same time last year and give a glimpse of some of the treasures participants can expect to find! Many thanks to Linda for the photos and the generous offer to share the gorgeous views of nature at her home.

Members should RSVP to Jane Kellenberger if they’d like to attend. Jane’s contact information and Linda’s address can be found in the Nature Artists’ Guild Yearbook.

Spring begins tomorrow! It’s one of the busiest times of the year for the flora, fauna, and yes, nature artists, here in the Midwest. As the birds, trees, frogs and flowers are preparing for the season, so are members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum. Please click on any of the highlighted links for more information.

Coming soon –

The annual expedition (paint-out) to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum for members of the Guild takes place tomorrow, Tuesday, March 20, 2018. Members can drop in with their art supplies and camera any time between 9 and noon.

Spring nature art classes and workshops begin soon at The Morton Arboretum. Inspired by Tony Tyznik: Drawing Oaks, taught by Suzanne Wegener, begins on Thursday, April 5, 2018, and Beginner’s Nature Art Workshops: Spring Flowers in Colored Pencil with Kathy Steere are scheduled for Saturday, April 7 and Sunday, April 8, 2018. These classes and workshopsare open to all, not just members of the Nature Artists’ Guild or The Morton Arboretum.

The Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art at The Morton Arboretum takes place on the weekend of April 7 and 8, 2018. This year we will be featuring images of some of the exhibit artwork by numerous Guild artists on this website. Check back soon for a preview.

A new paint-out has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at the home of Guild member Linda Hilderbrant from 10 am until 1 pm. More about this paint-out at Linda’s lovely and extensive woodland landscape to come soon. Thank you to Linda for this gracious invitation!

The annual paint-out for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild at the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum at Benedictine University in Lisle, IL, will take place on the morning of Tuesday, March 20, 2018 from 9 am until noon.

The museum claims “over 10,000 specimens, ranging from a tiny aphid to a whale skeleton”, and attendees can request specific specimens from storage by contacting Jane Kellenberger by Monday, March 12, 2018. Please click on this link to the museum’s online specimen catalog to search. Jane’s contact information can be found in the Nature Artists’ Guild Yearbook.

Whether your priority for the upcoming year is to make more art, to learn new techniques, or simply to view more art or make new friends, the Nature Artists’ Guild has it covered. There is still time to join or renew, and since memberships are for the calendar year, the sooner you join, the more benefit you’ll receive from your membership.

On Thursday evening, February 1, 2018, between 7 and 9 pm, Susan Waldron will give a presentation at the Thornhill Education Center on her techniques for creating floral and landscape paintings in oil as well as in fiber made from, if you can believe it, the wool from her own herd of alpacas! Guests and visitors are also welcome to attend this program free-of-charge. More details will be coming soon, but please visit Susan’s website for a preview of her work (and her alpacas).

The first paint-out of the year is scheduled for Tuesday morning, February 6, 2018 from 8 until 11 am at Orchids by Hausermann in Villa Park, IL.

Copyright Jane Kellenberger.

This popular paint-out (think tropical weather and being surrounded by thousands of orchids) has limited space and fills up quickly, so interested Guild members should contact Jane Kellenberger to save a spot. Jane’s contact information can be found in the Yearbook.

New classes and workshops start soon at The Morton Arboretum. Some upcoming nature art classes include Rocks, Minerals and Bones in Colored Pencil with Kimberly Mullarkey, Jewelry Making: Winter Berries Necklace with Karen Johnson, Linoleum Block Printing Workshop with Carrie Carlson, and Advanced Textures in Graphite and Watercolor and Nature in Graphite with Suzanne Wegener. For those just starting out, Beginner’s Nature Art Workshops: Winter Foliage in Graphite and Begin to Draw Nature are scheduled for late February and early March. All classes are open to the public and a discount is offered for members of The Morton Arboretum. Please click on this link to the Arboretum’s class listings for more information or to enroll.

The St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville, IL not only “contains over 100 acres of woodlands, prairies and wetlands, which are home to over 300 native plant species”, but is home to a 1890’s barn, a pond and numerous sculptures commissioned by the McCormick family, former owners of the property.

The Gardens at Ball have been the evaluation and testing grounds for the world’s wealth of horticultural introductions and improvements for nearly 80 years. What began as a row trial garden for seed varieties in 1933 has grown to encompass over 9 acres of display beds for annuals, perennials, cut flowers and vegetables, including the newest plants from the industry’s leading breeders and marketers. http://www.ballhort.com/GardensAtBall/

On the morning of Thursday, August 24, 2017, members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum are invited to attend a paint-out at The Gardens at Ball, Ball Horticultural Company, 622 Town Road, West Chicago, IL between 9 am and noon.

Participants are asked to RSVP to Jane Kellenberger, and should bring a folding chair, art supplies, and their camera for this exciting opportunity. Many thanks to Jane for the wonderful photos (please click on any photo for a larger version). Her contact information can be found in the Nature Artists’ Guild Yearbook.